The concept of on-demand delivery through apps and websites has become inseparable from our lives especially in the times of Covid. Today the gambit of doorstep delivery in India is not just limited to food, grocery, medicines, apparel, jewellery but has expanded to fuel as well.
Amid mobility restrictions in the pandemic, the doorstep fuel delivery or on-demand fuel delivery emerged as a lifesaver for businesses that depended heavily on diesel for their day-to-day operations. For a business say mining or textile that owns giant industrial equipment consumes large volumes of diesel and lacks a fuel storage facility to run operations. The hurdle in their business operations arises when the machines run out of fuel and they have no other option but to procure fuel from the retail outlets using private vehicles compromising heavily on safety. The staff kept for procuring fuel is neither trained nor adequately equipped to manage the procedures for which fuel delivery handling necessitates.
The emergence of fuel delivery apps appears to be beneficial to the small manufacturing business as they need not need to face the challenges of procuring and storing diesel in bulk and optimising inventory.
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The doorstep fuel delivery or on-demand fuel delivery emerged as a lifesaver for businesses that depended heavily on diesel for their day-to-day operations.
How on-demand fuel delivery will favour small manufacturing businesses?
Cost saver: Businesses can save money on acquiring fuel and consumption. With fuel prices already surpassing the century mark businesses will certainly try to bring down the operating cost. The on-demand fuel delivery will mean reduced manpower, zero pilferage, zero wastage, and no over-billing. It will eliminate the additional infrastructure required for a small manufacturing business for bulk storage of fuel.
Quality and quantity: The on-demand fuel providers employ technologies such as geofencing and digital billing to ensure there is no pilferage and the business pays for what they have ordered.
No compromise on safety: Safety is paramount while handling inflammable liquids. Fuel is transported through safety compliant browsers that are resistant to fire thereby reducing accidents.
24X7 fuel availability: The machines of small manufacturing businesses can run out of fuel anytime. The 24X7 availability of fuel will empower small businesses to avail fuel anytime, anywhere, and avoid investing in storage facilities. Quick delivery times will ensure the hassle-free process of fuel acquisition.
Reduced Carbon Footprints: On-demand fuel delivery allows reduced carbon emissions by lessening the trips to local fuel stations.
What lies ahead for the on-demand fuel delivery startups?
The on-demand fuel delivery startups contributing to zero carbon emissions align with PM Narendra Modi’s pledge to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2070, at COP 26 held at Glasgow. The government of India aims to encourage those businesses and startups whose digitisation can transform conventional practices. Moreover, as more hyperlocal delivery and D2C startups emerge, the on-demand fuel startups can strike partnerships to be their fuel partner. Also, the opportunity lies in hospitality, healthcare, construction & development, corporate office, parks, institutions, etc.
For oil companies, the on-demand fuel startup opens new business avenues to expand their offerings and develop services for the end-users that were restricted to petrol pumps. With the government‘s increased focus on EVs, on-demand delivery startups can also foray into developing electronic charging stations. Hamsafar, a fuel delivery startup is looking forward to developing charging stations at its tech platform and creating manufacturing consortia for standardized EV components such as batteries, powertrain, and charging equipment.
